Ipswich Town: Rob Edwards is the example Kieran McKenna should look to as Brighton, Chelsea and Man Utd circle - View | OneFootball

McKenna has done an outstanding job since arriving at Portman Road in December 2021, and after leading the Tractor Boys to promotion from League One last season, his side made it back-to-back promotions this campaign.

It was a remarkable season for Ipswich as they finished second in the Championship, accumulating an incredible total of 96 points, and McKenna's latest promotion underlines his reputation as one of the brightest young managers in English football.

According to Sky Sports, McKenna is one of the "leading candidates" to replace Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea, along with Brentford's Thomas Frank and Leicester City's Enzo Maresca, but the Blues are far from the only club interested in the 38-year-old.

Brighton are also keen on McKenna as they search for Roberto De Zerbi's successor, and The Times claim that both Brighton and Chelsea are willing to match McKenna's personal demands.

McKenna was previously a coach at Manchester United before taking over at Ipswich, working under Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and Ralf Rangnick, and he is reportedly under consideration by the Red Devils as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag, who is expected to be sacked after the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

A return to Old Trafford is said to be McKenna's preference, and while Ipswich have offered him a contract worth £5 million-a-year over the next four seasons, he is likely to reject a new deal, feeling that it is the right time to move on.

Luton Town manager Rob Edwards is believed to be on the Tractor Boys' list of targets if McKenna departs, and the fact that Edwards has maintained his reputation despite his side's relegation from the Premier League this season should make McKenna reconsider his stance about leaving Portman Road this summer.

Kieran McKenna should take Rob Edwards inspiration amid Ipswich Town exit speculation

Edwards took over at Luton in November 2022 following Nathan Jones' departure, and he led them to promotion to the Premier League in his first season in charge as they beat Coventry City on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley.

It completed a remarkable journey for the Hatters that had seen them go from the National League to the Premier League in just nine years, but few gave them any chance of surviving in the top flight.

Luton did make an immediate return to the Championship with a total of just 26 points, but the Hatters earned plenty of plaudits over the course of the season for their competitive performances, and Edwards was praised for the way he conducted himself.

You would not usually expect a manager whose only season managing in the Premier League ended in relegation to be linked with top flight jobs, but Edwards is an impressive character, and it is easy to see why his reputation has remained intact.

McKenna is in a similar situation to Edwards, having guided a side to a surprise promotion to the Premier League, and his stock is arguably even higher given the fact Ipswich have won back-to-back promotions.

The Northern Irishman is now firmly on the radar of some of English football's top clubs, and while relegation may rule him out of contention for the elite jobs, this summer will certainly not be his only chance to make the step up.

It is an incredibly difficult decision facing McKenna, and while it is understandable why the prospect of a move to Chelsea, Brighton or Man United would be tempting for him, there are risks attached to all three jobs.

Kieran McKenna must be careful over potential Ipswich Town exit

Chelsea have been a club in chaos for much of Todd Boehly's reign as owner, and it was a strange decision for the Blues to sack Pochettino after finishing sixth in the Premier League, and at a time when it looked as though they were finally beginning to make progress.

Pochettino's harsh dismissal raises doubts over whether McKenna would be given the time and patience needed to deliver success at Stamford Bridge, and he would face similar pressure at United.

McKenna would inherit big problems at both Chelsea and United, and failure at either club could harm his managerial career more than suffering relegation with Ipswich.

Brighton could be the perfect stepping stone to a bigger job, but McKenna is already attracting significant interest, and there are question marks over whether a move to the Amex Stadium would necessarily be a big upgrade on his current job.

McKenna has found the perfect home at Ipswich, and the Tractor Boys do have the financial resources to be competitive in the Premier League, so there is still plenty more he could achieve at Portman Road.

With the right additions this summer, Ipswich would have a good chance of surviving in the top flight next season under McKenna, but he should not be fearful about the impact relegation would have on his career.

McKenna could look to the example of Edwards, but he should also consider the fact that Vincent Kompany is set to make a shock move to German giants Bayern Munich after overseeing Burnley's relegation from the Premier League.

The Clarets went down with a disappointing total of just 24 points, two less than Luton despite spending significantly more than the Hatters, and Kompany's refusal to change his style of play was largely blamed for his side's plight, but it has seemingly not prevented the Belgian from landing one of the biggest jobs in world football.

McKenna is deservedly attracting attention after the excellent job he has done at Ipswich, but he must carefully consider whether it is the right time to leave Portman Road, and remaining loyal to the Tractor Boys for now could lead to even better job opportunities in the future.